Airship



June 23, 1931.

G. D. HAZARD AIRSHIP Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 23, 1931; G. D. HAZARD 1,811,196

AIRSHIP Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 23, 1931 GEORGE- D. HAZARD, OF CHICAGQ'ILLINOIS Amsmr Application filed May 14, 1928. Serial no. 277,466.

This invention relates to improvements in airships and more in particular to an improvement in a rigid airship construction having all of the advantages of both the dirigible and the aeroplane, and the disadvantages of neither. In the aeroplane, the vital life of the machine is in the combined action of the engine plus the wing spread and the action of the slip steam of air blast from m the propeller blade against the wing spread of the machine. In the dirigible, the gas 1s used to lift the entire craft, and, if left alone, will lift the craft to its point of air balance and stay there. hen it is at whatever level it is proposed to travel on, thereis a combat on between the gas and the engine, the gas making its natural effort to rise with its load, and the engine fighting against the natural eflort, holding the craft down the desired level and dragging it through the air. Under these conditions, the limited speed of the dirigible is not so much its airresistance to forward movement, as it is in the conflict between the two opposing forces of the gas and the engine.

In my construction, I use the principle of the direct drive of the aeroplane in connection and in combination with the advantages of the dirigible and I propose to make the gas lift only about or of the craft and its load. This will avoid the disadvantages of the present type of dirigible and its air-resistance will be greatly lessened, as well as its gravity load. In my construction the two forces are working together, rather than against or opposite each other.

I eliminate the individual difficulties of both the aeroplane and the dirigible and in case of the entire engine power stopping, my construction of airship could not rise into the air and stay there as long as its gas contents would support it, nor could it fall to the ground, but would merely float down at an inappreciable speed.

15 By eliminating the great portion of the natural gravity load of the craft, I also eliminate to a great extent the air-resistance. A perfectly rigid craft would have a greater natural ability to overcome air-resistance than one of the present type and the factor of safety would be much greater. My construction would be admirably adaptedffor commercial transportation not only because of its ease of control and safety, but also becauseof its low landing speed. Thisspeed of landing has been one of the dangers in the present day flying and by my construction, the craft may he landed at a speed no greater than the usual walking gait ofa human being.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, I desire it to be understood that the same is susceptible of modi-- 'fication and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my airwe ship. i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the craft. Fig. 3 is a View in vertical cross section of my construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical r5 elevation of my airship, with a portion there of broken away to more clearly disclose the inner bracing means. v

Referring to the drawings, the bag ofthe V airship, is designated generally 1 and comprises an elongated longitudinal body portion. 7 The body may be constructed of duralumin or other light and substantially rigid metal. Mounted upon the craft is aforward wing 2, a central wing of relatively large a spread 3, and a rear wing 4, which is similar in construction to the wing 2. Suitable bracing means are provided for these wing structures so as to hold them in their proper position. Mounted on suitable supporting means below the wing 2 are a pair of motors or power plants 5, one each mounted on the sides of the body or gas bag. Similar motors or power plants 6 are mounted on suitable supports and braced on the rear wing. A. rudder 7 is mounted at the rear of the ship.-

The body 1 is substantially circular in cross-section and is provided with a central --longitudinal tube 8. I Suitable bracing wires 9 are provided in the inner construction of the body, these wires being attached to the central tube 8 and circular frames or bands 10. Ribs 11, are suitably spaced apart around the inner circumference of the bag and attached to the circular frames or bands, and are held in tension against the outer structure of the body by these bands 10.

Mounted below the body of the ship is a storage space 12, and mounted below this storage space is the cabin 13. A door let, adapted to be normally held closed, allows access from the cabin 13 to the storage space 12. Suitable wheels and landing gears 15 are mounted on the underside of the cabin.

From the disclosure in Fig. 3, it will be noted that my construction is substantially an equilateral triangle in cross-section. It provides a perfectly balanced construction of the various elements provided in the makeup of my craft. The storage space and cabin will accommodate a large number of passengers, crew and supplies. Not only is the storage space and cabin suitably braced on the side walls of the-body, but as clearly shown in Fig. 3, guide wires from the wing tipsare attached to the body at the juncture of the bracing means and side walls 16 for bracing the cabin.

A though I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in the preferred form, it will be apparent that the various details of the construction relating to the construction of the cabin, motors or power plants, etc., may be varied without departing from the principle and spirit of my invention. It will be readily seen from the above description and the disclosure in the draw ings, that I have provided a construction of great utility in the transportation of passengers. By the combination of the various advantages and features of both the dirigible and the aeroplane, I have constructed an airship of a maximum simplicity, efficiency,

economy and ease of operation, and one which will entirely eliminate the hazards due to the present day relatively great landing speed.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim: I

1. An airship comprising a gas e-nclosin body, longitudinal central tube in said body, means including bracing members attached to said tube for bracing the side wall of said body, elevating wings mounted on the top of said body portion, power units mounted beneath said wings on each side of said body, and a cabin mounted below said body and braced therefrom, the lower part of said cabin being at a distance from the tips of said wings substantially equal to the spread of said wings.

2-. an airship comprising a gas enclosing body, a longitudinal central tube in said body, means for bracing the side walls of said bony, wings mounted on the top of said body,

power units mounted below said wings and a cabin mounted below the body, the lower part of said cab-in being at a distance from the tips of said wings substantially equal to the spread of said wings.

3. An airship comprising a gas enclosing body, wings of substantially equal surface area mounted on the top of said body at the front and rear thereof and provided with power units, a wing intermediate said front and rear wings and of relatively greater surface area, and a cabin mounted below said body. 7

4. An airship comprising a gas enclosing body, elevating wings of substantially equal surface area mounted on the top of said body at the front and. rear thereof, said wings being provided with power units, an elevating wing mounted on said body intermediate the ends thereof and of relatively greater surface area than said first mentioned wings, and a cabin mounted below said body and extending substantially the full length thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

GEORGE D. HAZARD. 

